Harry Augustus Garfield in United States

Harry Augustus Garfield

Harry Augustus “Hal” Garfield (1863-1942), American educator, son of James A. Garfield, 20th president of the U.S., was born at Hiram, O., Oct. 11 1863. After graduating from Williams College in 1885, he taught for a year in St. Paul’s school, Concord, N.H., and from 1888 to 1903 practised law in Cleveland. He was professor of contracts in the Law school of Western Reserve University from 1891 to 1897; helped to organize, in 1896, the municipal association of Cleveland; and served as president of the Cleveland chamber of commerce, 1908-9. He was professor of politics at Princeton University from 1903 to 1908 and in the latter year became president of Williams College. In Aug. 1917 he was appointed Federal fuel administrator by President Wilson. His duty was to conserve the coal supply and keep the price within reasonable bounds. Local committees were appointed throughout the country to study local conditions and their reports formed the basis for the prices fixed in different localities. The ensuing winter was unusually severe, and serious shortage of coal threatened. This led to his issuing his “idle Mondays” order in Jan. 1918, closing non-essential industries for five consecutive days beginning Jan. 18 and on every Monday thereafter up to March 25. This roused a storm of protest from many manufacturers; and the U.S. Senate voted a resolution, requesting postponement, but this reached him after the order had been signed. On Feb. 14, however, the order was suspended and priority for certain shipments substituted. He disapproved of the method of settling the coal strike in Dec. 1919 and resigned his office, resuming that of president of Williams College.

Main Source: Encyclopædia Britannica (1922)

Alternative Biography

Gartfield, Harry Augustus, American educator and public official: b. Hiram, Portage County, Ohio, 11 Oct. 1863. He is a son of James A. Garfield, 20th President of the United States; was educated at Williams College, where he was graduated in 1885. In 1885-86 he taught Latin and Roman history at Saint Paul’s School, Concord, N. H., and practised law in Cleveland from 1888 to 1903. From 1891 to 1897 he was professor of contracts at the Law School of Western Reserve University; in 1903-08 was professor of politics at Princeton, and in the latter year was appointed president of Williams College. In 1908-09 he was president of the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce and in 1896 helped to organize the Cleveland Municipal Association, of which he was afterward president. In 1917, soon after the entrance of the United States into the World War, President Wilson appointed Mr. Garfield fuel controller. Because of the shortage of coal in the Northeastern States, especially New York City, and in Ohio, his administration of the office was severely criticized in the press, but Congressional investigation showed that the shortage was due to failure of the railroads to meet the extra demands upon them, and the situation cleared soon after Federal control of the roads was instituted, 28 Dec. 1917.

Main Source: Encyclopædia Britannica (1922)

Works

America’s coal problem in 1918. Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1918. OCLC 34188455
The fuel situation at the beginning of winter 1918-19, Washington, Govt. Print. Off., 1918. OCLC 44062275
Recent political developments, progress or change? 1924. OCLC 77660203
Lost visions,, Boston: Priv. Print. by Thomas Todd Co. 1944. OCLC 3615228

References and Further Reading

Comer, Lucretia Garfield, Harry Garfield’s first forty years; man of action in a troubled world. New York, Vantage Press, 1965, OCLC 569252
Doug Wead, All the President’s Children: Triumph and Tragedy in the Lives of America’s First Families, Atria Books, New York, 2003,